The trauma experience for children who have survived maltreatment, deprivation, and witnessing family violence can bring about a number of challenging behaviors. The caregivers in these children‚'s lives must understand the dynamics of healing from trauma and how to use the behaviors children exhibit as a tool for gathering information. This workshop deals with methods to use challenging behaviors as an assessment and engagement tool with children and teens. We will discuss strategies on how the process of engagement can lead to connections by which caregivers can teach help youth gain control of overwhelming emotions.